Jack-Knifed Semi Blocks I-96

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Image from MDOT camera at Plainfield Avenue

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The westbound lanes of I-96 were blocked at the Dean Lake Avenue overpass Tuesday when a semi jack-knifed on the slippery pavement.

Traffic was quickly backed up to Leonard Street.

The mishap occurred shortly after noon but certainly wasn’t the only trouble on West Michigan’s roads.

At the same time, drivers were delayed on northbound US-131 due to a crash that blocked the left two lanes after Leonard Street. That crash was cleared around 12:25 p.m.

Another crash blocked a lane and backed up traffic on I-196 westbound east of Fuller Avenue. That scene was cleared around 12:30 p.m.

Occasional blasts of snow only made worse what already were bad driving conditions. Slide-offs and spinouts were common on highways and country roads, and fender-benders bogged down some city intersections.